Combination lock



Aug. 22, 1967 w E. JANDT COMBINATION LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 'Spt 17, 1965 Aug.-22, 1967 I EJANDT 3,336,772

I COMBINATION LOCK Filed Sept. 17, 1965 5 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 22, 1967 E. JANDT COMBINATION LOCK Filed Sept. '17, 1965 5 Sheets$heet 5 United States Patent 3,336,772 COMBINATION LOCK Ernst Jandt, Bremen, Germany, assignor to Narddeutsche Mende Rundfunk KG, Bremen-Hemelingen, Germany, a company of Germany Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,027 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-289) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination lock having a presettable combination defining a tortuous path through which, for the lock to be opened, the locks setting member must pass out of contact with the means defining the path. A blocking mechanism operated by the setting member prevents the lock from being opened unless the setting member is properly aligned with the mechanism when the combination is completed. Such alignment is prevented by contact between the setting member and the means providing the tortuous path when an incorrect combination is followed.

This invention relates to combination locks; and more particularly to combination locks in which there is relative motion along a path defined by the lock code between a setting member on the one hand and control means on the other hand to enable the lock to be opened. In such locks any deviation from this path due to an error in following the combination causes the setting member to prevent the lock from being opened.

Prior art combination locks of this type operate with tumbler disks having notches or bores which are successively brought into a straight line whenever the disks are correctly rotated. A lever then drops into the space cleared by the notches or bores, or a shaft is pushed through the bores releasing a blocking mechanism so the lock can be opened. Some combination locks have several tumbler disks each with a slot through which a two-part spring-loaded setting member must be passed for the lock to open. In such locks the setting member is permanently coupled to the locking element, however, and its spring loading produces a distinctly perceptible clicking sound when an incorrect combination is being followed. Combination locks with spring loaded setting members therefore have the disadvantage that they can be listened to. In addition, they are expensive to make.

Also in known combination locks, unless a separate shaft is provided for each disk, it takes considerable care and efiort to successively and correctly set the disks. In many cases the combination must be operated in a reverse sequence in order to shut the lock.

Furthermore, when an emergency occurs there may not be enough time to reset the combination in locks constructed in accordance With the prior art. Each setting of the combination requires such concentration, that it is very easy for mistakes to occur. This may result in the lock not being protected by the complete combination, and this is particularly true if the sequence of letters or numbers in the combination is changed. If the combination is incorrectly set or misset by third parties getting the lock open can be quite difiicult.

Various proposals have been made for remedying these shortcomings and deficiencies, but they require a considerable increase in lock complexity as well as an increase in the space occupied by the lock. The proposals include, for example, expensive devices for displacing the combination in the event of an emergency, pilot lights to indicate incompletely secured combinations, and the installation of a lock in the setting knob to prevent improper adjustment of the combination. As a result and because of their size, cost and complicated operation the use of combination locks has remained largely confined to big safes.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a combination lock in which the correct combination cannot be detected by feel or by hearing as lock is being manipulated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combination lock in which the handle can be repeatedly returned to positions previously passed through in accordance with the combination, without upsetting the progress of the lock opening process.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination lock of comparatively small size so that it may be employed in house doors, desks, cabinets, motor vehicles, bicycles, refrigerators, television sets and briefcases and the like in addition to safes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination lock which is simple in that it has few parts, and which can therefore be inexpensively manufactured and made insensitive to improper handling.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and its novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

The invention includes a setting member which is preferably designed as a slider or feeler or the like. It is located inside the lock and adapted to be given a special loading condition or position whenever the setting handle is rotated to a given position at the start of the combination. The setting handle is part of the control means by which the lock is manipulated and operated. Once placed in this special condition, the setting member or feeler must then be moved relatively along a tortuous path that possesses the features of a labyrinth. If it reaches the end of this path without having had its condition changed, the combination has been successfully followed and the lock can be opened. The lock cannot be opened, however, unless the setting member remains in the special loading condition in which it was placed at the start of the combination or setting process. If during the setting process (i.e., as the combination is being followed) there is any deviation from the path of relative movement which the setting member must follow to open the lock, the special loading condition of the setting member is cancelled and it is impossible to open the lock'without starting again and following the correct combination path. One advantage of this invention is that no one can tell from looking at, feeling or listening to the lock when the preferred condition of the setting member is cancelled, i.e. when an improper combination is being followed.

In the operation of the lock it is immaterial whether the setting member moves through the tortuous path or labyrinth or whether the path moves by the setting member. In either case in order to open the lock the setting member must move relatively with respect to the path according to the combination which has previously been set into the lock. Many different embodiments of the invention are possible. The preferred embodiment described hereinafter employs mechanical means, but additional preferred embodiments employing magnetic means or electrical means are also possible. They are all intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Other embodiments employing compressed air, fluids, heat or light are also conceivable.

In the drawings, which have been made on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken on line C-D of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut away cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken on line AB of that figure.

FIG. 3 is also a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 but taken on line B-F of that figure.

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section through another preferred embodiment of the invention showing how the lock can be opened by a labyrinth template.

FIG. is a perspective view of a portion of the labyrinth template and lug shown in FIG. 4.

Now referring to the preferred mechanical embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the combination lock includes a rotor 1 partially enclosed by a lock housing 4. Rotor 1 has a setting handle 1a integral with it at one end projecting out of the housing 4. Together they comprise part of the control means by means of which the lock can be operated. Housing 4 is circular in cross section, and comprises an inner component 4b and an outer component 40. Housing 4 is made in two parts in order that the lock may be put together and dismantled. Housing 4b and 4c are connected together by means of screws 4d. Inside housing 4 are bolt actuator means comprising a rotor 3 one end of which projects outwardly from the housing. Rotor 3 operates and is permanently connected to the bolt (not shown) which opens and closes the lock. Rotor 3 is movable within housing 4 but it has an annular lip 3b which prevents its removal from the casing without first removing casing component 4b. In a lower portion of rotor 3 there is (see FIG. 1) a spring loaded coupling stud 2 for locking rotor 1 and rotor 3 together. Coupling stud 2 is biased toward rotor 1 by a compression spring 3a but is restrained from extending too far in that direction by a collar 3c. Opposite coupling stud 2 but in rotor 1 at inner end 1b there is a cylindrical bore 12 which is adapted to receive stud 2 when the lock is in a condition to be opened after the correct combination has been followed. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, when an incorrect combination has been followed coupling stud 2 is prevented from entering bore 12 by a blocking member 10 even though the stud and the bore may be otherwise correctly aligned.

The invention also includes a setting member or setting feeler 5 which is preferably mounted on a bracket 6 which is fixed is casing component 4b. The setting member is shown in cross section on bracket 6 in FIG. 1, and in elevation in the sectional view of FIG. 2. It rests in a slot 5b in lock casing component 4b (see FIG. 2), and is adapted to be pivoted about its center of gravity on mounting bracket 6 which acts as a fulcrum. Setting member 5 is preferably made of thin steel and is bent a small amount so as to be slightly wedged in slot 511 and thereby frictionally held in any position in which it is put. It can be set into either of two different positions. One of these is its special loading position or condition, in which it is set by moving setting handle 1a to a position in .which the lock is set to the first letter or number of the combination.

To place setting member 5 in this condition or position there is an open annular spring 26 mounted in groove 1c of rotor 1. Spring 26 grips groove 1c and rotates with setting handle 1a when it is turned. At one end of the spring is a tip or lug 26a (see FIGS. 1 and 2) which rests in an annular groove 4a formed between casing components 4b and 40. Thus, lug 26a moves in groove 4a according to the direction and amount which setting handle 1a is turned.

In accordance with the invention setting member 5 has a lug 5a (see FIG. 2) which cooperates with lug 26a to move the setting member to its special loading position at the start of the combination. As setting handle 1a is turned forward to its first position in the combination lug 26a passes underneath lug 5a in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2. When this occurs, if the setting member is not in its special condition lug 26a. will contact lug 5a and pivot the setting member back into its special loading position.

The means for pivoting setting member 5 out of its special loading position will now be described. Reference is made particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which rotor 1 is shown as having an annular recess 9. In addition on either side of the recess parallel to the central axis of the rotor and equally spaced around its periphery there are a plurality of longitudinal slots 8 (see particularly FIG. 2) in which a plurality of laminae 7 are placed. Laminae 7 are shaped somewhat like balance beams having a bulge (7a) at their middle with each bulge extending into recess 9 so as to act as a fulcrum about which the laminae may be pivoted either clockwise or counterclockwise as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. Bulge 7a is preferably shaped to contact both a bottom portion and the sides of recess 9. Each bulge acts as a bearing support at the center of gravity of a lamina. Preferably bulges 7a contact the walls of annular recess 9 with a small amount of friction so as to maintain the laminae in a fixed position until their position is changed by means to be hereinafter described. This frictional engagement is preferably provided by forming the laminae 7 of suffiicently resilient material, e.g., the material referred to in connection with setting member 5, and by cutting each bulge 7a to a size which is slightly larger than recess 9 so the bulge can be forced into its recess. Other methods or means for keeping the laminae in the position in which they are set are also possible.

Each lamina 7 has two opposite ends 7b and 7c in one of the slots 8 which have been referred to hereinbefore. Radially outwardly of recess 9 and between the ends of each slot 8 there is a second annular recess 9a in rotor 1. This recess lies radially over recess 9 but extends axially a distance along the rotor on both sides of recess 9. Recess 9a cooperates with the laminae 7 to provide the tortuous or labyrinthine path comprising the secret combination which must be followed in order to open the lock. When a lamina 7 is set in a counterclockwise position (see FIG. 1) its end 7b is at or below the radially inner level of the part of recess 9a adjacent that end of the lamina. At the same time its oppoiste end 70 lies radially outwardly of the other end of recess 9a thereby forming an obstruction in the recess 9a which obstruction will push setting member 5 out of its special loading position if an incorrect combination is followed as will be hereinafter described in more detail. Though no laminae 7 are shown in most of the slots 8 in FIG. 2 this is only done for the sake of clarity in the drawing. In an actual lock all slots 8 except one contain laminae 7. The slot 8 which does not contain such a lamina contains a blocking member 10 to be hereinafter described.

Clockwise and counterclockwise pivoting of laminae 7 in recesses 9 and 9a is accomplished by means of a pin (not shown) which is insertable through a bore 13 (see FIG. 1) in lock housing 4. Insertion of such a pin in bore 13 will pivot a lamina 7 counterclockwise whenever its end 7b is positioned underneath the bore 13. It will pivot the lamina clockwise whenever its end 70 is positioned underneath the bore. Either end of any lamina 7 may be positioned under bore 13 by appropriately rotating and axially positioning setting handle 1a. For this purpose rotor 1 is constructed to be axially movable to the left and to the right along its central axis as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. Once a lamina is in position, a pin can be inserted through the bore to pivot the lamina about its fulcrum. By changing the position of one or more laminae 7 in this manner different secret combinations may be set into the lock. The number and variety of combinations which may be obtained in this manner is legion, depending only on the number of laminae contained in the lock.

Rotation or rotor 1 by setting handle 1a in the forward direction, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, will bring each of the lamina 7 past setting member 5 in succession. To successfully perform the combination, which for the sake of describing the invention will be assumed to have been previously set into the lock, it is necessary that setting member 5 remain undisturbed in its action position shown in FIG. 2. This requires moving the setting handle axially as well as rotating it to ensure that each lamina 7 is moved past setting member 5 without engaging it. Whenever the wrong combination is being followed or an error is made while attempting to follow the right combination, the radially outermost end of one lamina 7 (end 7b or 70 as the case may be) will engage lug 5c of the setting member causing it to be moved out of its action position thereby preventing the lock from being opened as will be hereinafter explained in more detail. Once the setting member has been moved out of its action position the lock cannot be opened without beginning the combination all over again. It can, therefore, be seen that in order to open the lock the combination must be successfully followed by rotating and axially moving rotor 1 in and out in such a manner that lug 5c of setting member 5 is nowhere contacted by either end of any lamina 7.

This is accomplished by having the operator of the lock know the combination so that at any given position setting handle 1a can be moved to ensure that each lamina can be moved freely past setting member 5 and its lug 5c without moving it from its action position.

As seen in FIG. 2, for example, the two ends 7b of lamina 7 shown in the lower left hand portion of the cross-sectional view project radially outwardly into recess 9a beyond the slots 8 in which they rest. On the other hand, the lamina end 7b in the upper portion of the view does not project radially outwardly beyond its similar slot 8. Under these conditions rotor 1 would have to be axially moved to the left, as seen in FIG. 1, before it could be rotated to move these lower lamina ends 7b pas-t setting member 5 without pushing it out of its action position. On the other hand, rotor 1 should remain in the position shown in FIG. 1 in order for setting member lug 50 to pass end 7b of the upper lamina 7 (see FIG. 2) without being moved by it.

Assuming that setting member 5 remains in its action position and that the secret combination of the lock has been successfully followed, the means whereby the, lock can be opened will now be described, At the end of the combination the rotor is always in the given angular and axial position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this position lug 5c is in line with lug a of blocking member-10, and rotor 1 rests in its axially right hand most location. Blocking member 10 is mounted in the one slot 8 which does not contain a lamina 7. Member 10 preferably comprises a flat narrow piece of sheet metal which may be held in its blocking position by an open spring 11 (see FIG. I) mounted in the radially innermost portion of annular recess 9. An upper body portion of blocking member 10 extends radially inwardly into a part of annular recess 9 parallel the central axis of rotor 1, thereby permitting member 10 to pivot about fulcrum point 1d of rotor 1. This fulcrum point is formed at a junction between recess 9, slot 8 and recess 9a. Lug 10a is preferably integral with member 10 and is designed to pivot the member about fulcrum 1d when contacted by setting member lug 5c.

Blocking member 10 also has a lug 10b which under normal circumstances is positioned in previously mentioned bore 12. Lug 10b is maintained in bore 12 by the tension force of spring 11 which holds blocking member 10 pivoted in a clockwise direction about fulcrum point 1d as shown in FIG. 1. It is only when setting member 5 is in its special loading position which is directly in line with lug 16a and when setting handle 1a is moved axially to the left, that blocking member 10 pivots counter-clockwise about fulcrum point 1d and lug 10b is withdrawn from bore 12 (see the withdrawing direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1). When this occurs bore 12 is left empty and in a condition to receive coupling stud 2. The lock is designed, however, so that when blocking member lug 10a is in line with setting member 50 and is moved to the left into contact with it (see the arrow in FIG. 1) coupling stud 2 is not perfectly aligned with the bore 12. The lock is designed so that stud 2 at least partially engages rotor end 1b as rotor 1 is moved to the left and is thereby pushed back into the bolt actuator means, i.e., rotor 3, compressing spring 3a. Lug 10b does not extend axially beyond the confines of bore 12 so that it does not engage any part of coupling stud 2. This allows the lug to be withdrawn from bore 12 without interference from the coupling stud.

Assuming now that lug 10b has been withdrawn from bore 12 and that' coupling stud 2 has been driven back flush with the inner end of rotor 3, rotation of setting handle 1a will bring the coupling stud into line with bore 12 where it will be snapped into the bore under the pressure of spring 3a. The handle may be rotated in the forward direction to permit this to occur. Once rotor 1 is thus engaged with rotor 3 further rotation of handle 1a in this direction will cause the lock bolt to be moved and open the lock.

On the other hand, if setting feeler 5 has been moved out of its action position as the combination was being followed setting member 5 will be out of line with blocking member lug 10a, and lug 10b cannot be withdrawn from bore 12. When this occurs, even though coupling stud 2 may be aligned with bore 12 the stud is prevented from entering the bore by the presence in it of log 10b.

Lug 10b has a point which lies closer to coupling 'stud 2 than any other part of the blocking member. This point lies radially inwardly of fulcrum point 1d so that any engagement between coupling stud 2 and point 100 will help maintain the blocking member in its blocking position. Lug 10b has two edges, 10d and 10e, which slope away from point 10c, Edge 10d lies radially inwardly of point 100 and edge 10e lies radially outwardly thereof. This enables coupling stud 2 to help move lug 10b out of bore 12 by sliding on edge 10d if lug 10b has not been completely removed from the bore by the pivoting action of lug 10a about fulcrum 1d when the lock combination has been successfully followed. On the other hand, the slope of edge 10e helps ensure maintenance of lug 10b within the bore whenever the combination has been incorrectly followed and point 100 is in line to engage the end of coupling stud 2.

The method of closing the lock is very simple. All that need be done is withdraw handle 1a to its right hand position as seen in FIG. 1. This will pull bore 12 off coupling stud 2 and permit lug 10b to snap back into the bore under pressure from spring 11. One advantage of the invention is that this may be done regardless of the rotational displacement position of handle 1a.

To insure that the lock cannot be opened by turning handle 1a backwards and thereby avoiding the need to follow the combination one of the slots 8 contains a fixed lamina 27 (see FIG. 2). Backward rotation of handle .1a will bring this lamina immediately into contact with setting member 5 thereby forcing it out of its action position. Lamina 27 and the slot 8 in which it is mounted are positioned relative to blocking member 10 so that whenever rotor 1 is turned backward after the build up process is completed setting member 5 is forced out of its action position.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is an open loop spring 29 one end of which is positioned in a notch 29a in casing component 4b at the inner end of rotor 1. At its other end spring 29 urges a ball 28 radially inwardly with a small amount of pressure, Ball 28 lies in an opening 28a in lock housing member 4b, and contacts the free end of a slot 8 on the periphery of rotor end 1b. The radially outer portions of these end-s of slots 8 may be tapered in such a manner as to give the end a Y shape when seen in cross-section (see FIG. 3). This enables ball 28 to cooperate with these ends of slots 8 and act as detent-s marking the positions of each slot 8. A short slot 8a is provided without any lamina 7 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It cooperates with ball 28 to act as a detent as to the other slots 8 and dilfers only in that it contains no lamina. Though the Y shaped cross-section of slots 8 and 8a are only shown in connection with one of the slots in FIG. 3, it may be provided in connecton with all of them. In such a construction rotation of handle 1a causes ball 28 to move in and out in accordance with the passing of each slot 8 past the ball thereby indicating the various peripheral locations of the slots and the laminae 7 contained therein.

Rotation of rotor 1 can be accomplished directly by turning setting handle 1a which is integral with the rotor, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or it can be done by other means. For example, setting handle 111 may be connected to rotor 1 indirectly through gearing means which, among other things, may drive rotor 1 at a different rate than handle 1a is driven. As another example, it is also possible to connect handle 1a to rotor 1 through a step-by-step counter or stepping switch means, which might be useful in an electrical embodiment of this invention.

Another preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment the lock is the same and is operated in the manner of the embodiment just described, but means are addtionally provided for following the secret combination without a chance of making an error. This is done by providing a template16'which precisely describes the tortuous path of the combination set into the lock. In this embodiment setting handle 1a of the previous embodiment has been replaced by a handle 17 which may have a template 16 containing the labyrinthine path of the combination integrally connected to it, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Handle 17 and template 16 may be positively coupled to rotor 1 to avoid slippage by providing a recess 19 in the middle of the rotor into which a lug 16a on the template 16 may be inserted. Between lug 16a and handle 17 an open annular shoulder 20 may be provided integral with rotor 1. In this manner lug 16a can be passed through the opening in shoulder 20 and firmly locked behind it by means not shown.

Combination template 16 cooperates with a lug 15 permanently connected to the lock housing 4 in such a manner that while manipulating the lock it is imposible to deviate from the combination which will open it. The exact stepby-step pushing, turning and pulling movements in a sequence precisely prescribed by the secret combination must be followed in order to open the lock. This is done by having lug 15, as schematically indicated in FIG. 5, in perspective, extend into the path defined by template 16 so that handle 17 can follow only those setting movements of the template permitted by lug 15 as it follows the path of the template profile illustrated by projections 21 and recesses 22 in FIG. 5. Handle 17 and template 16 must be rotated in the forward direction and moved axially in and out as indicated by arrows 23 and 24 to make the lock follow the combination. When this is done no error can be made and the lock will open on the first try.

The lock may also be made openable either by free motions of the setting handle in conformity with the combination as with the first described embodiment or by following the path of a template such as with the embodiment just described, This may be done by providing the embodiment of FIG. 4 with a handle (not shown) similar to handle 1a shown in FIG. 1, except that it has a threaded bolt for screwing into a threaded hole 25 (see FIG. 4) in the rotor 1. With such construction the lock can be opened either by template or by hand without a template.

Various embodiments of the invention have now been set forth, and it will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim.

1. In a combination lock which is opened by following a preset combination, bolt actuator means, control means for operating said bolt actuator means, blocking means associated with said control means and movable relative to the latter into and out of a blocking position in which it blocks said control means from operating said bolt actuator means, setting means movable between a first position for engaging said blocking means and moving it out of its blocking position and a second position for non-engagement with said blocking means, means for shifting said setting means to its first position when said control means and said blocking means have been displaced in one direction relative to said setting means to a predetermined initial position, means defining a tortuous path for relative displacement between (1) said setting means and (2) said control means and its associated blocking means, said path extending in one direction from an initial point to a terminal point at which said blocking means and said setting means are engageable when the setting means is in its first position but non-engageable when the setting means is in its second position, means for selectively adjusting said path defining means to change said path and thereby change said combination, means for effecting relative displacement of said setting means and said control means along said path without disturbing said setting means in its said first position to bring said blocking means and said setting means into engagement to move said blocking means out of its blocking position so that said control means is free to operate said bolt actuator means.

2. A combination lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting relative displacement of said setting means and said control means along said path comprises manually operable means.

3. A combination lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said setting means comprises a feeler movable about its center of gravity between said first and second positions.

4. A combination lock as set forth in claim 3 wherein said feeler is deformable for adjusting its said first and second positions, and means are provided for frictionally engaging said feeler and retaining the same when it is in each one of its said positions.

5. In a combination lock which is opened by following a preset combination, a setting member, means pivotally supporting said setting member so that a portion of the latter is movable between an inner position and an outer position, control means operable in accordance with a preset combination for coaction with said setting member for opening said lock when said portion of the setting member is in its said inner position, said control means comprising a rotor, a plurality of elongated lamina members and means for moving said setting member portion into its inner position at the start of the preset combination, said rotor being mounted for rotation about its axis with its periphery adjacent said setting member portion when the latter is in its inner position, means supporting said rotor so that the rotor can be moved forwardly and rearwardly along its axis, said rotor having a plurality of elongated axially extending recesses disposed in spaced relation about its periphery with one recess for each of said lamina members, each of said lamina members being pivotally mounted in its respective recess with its opposite end portions extending forwardly and rearwardly on opposite sides of its pivot and forming an annular array about said rotor, rotation of said rotor in one direction about its axis serving to bring said lamina members successively into radial alignment with said portion of said setting member, said lamina members each being selectively shiftable at will between two positions one in which its forwardly extending end portion projects out of its recess and a second position in which its rearwardly extending end portion projects out of its recess so as to establish said preset combination, projecting end portions of said lamina members upon engagement with said setting member portion serving to shift the latter to its outer position, and means for rotating and axially displacing said rotor relative to said setting member in accordance with said preset combination so that as each succeeding lamina member is brought into radial alignment with said portion of said setting member the projecting end portion thereof is out of registration with said portion of said setting member.

6. A combination lock as set forth in claim further comprising a housing enclosing said control means and said Setting member, said housing having an aperture formed therethrough in alignment with the opposite end portions of said lamina members when said rotor is in its forward and rearward positions.

7. A combination lock as set forth in claim 5 wherein said rotor has a further elongated axially extending recess formed in the periphery thereof, an elongated blocking member axially extending in said recess, said rotor having a bore formed in the forwardly presented end face thereof communicating with said further recess, resilient means pivotally supporting and biasing said blocking member so that its forward end portion extends in said bore, bolt actuator means rotatably supported adjacent said forward end face of said rotor, said bolt actuator means including a resiliently biased stud normally projecting from the same toward said rotor-forward end face, said stud being positioned for registration with said bore following radial alignment of said blocking member with said setting memher and further rotation of said rotor in said one direction, said blocking member being located relative to said array so that when said rotor is rotated in said one direction said blocking member follows the last of the succession of lamina members into radial alignment with said setting member, and said setting member portion only in its inner position being eng-ageable with said blocking member to pivot the same and withdraw its forward end portion from said bore when said rotor is displaced forwardly with said blocking member in radial alignment with said setting member.

8. A combination lock as set forth in claim 5 which further comprises means for automatically actuating said rotating and displacing means in accordance with said preset combination.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 914,819 3/1909 Gagnon -290 1,165,479 12/1915 Wittwer 70-290 X 1,475,033 11/1923 Simbol 70-290 3,017,761 1/1962 Pleterski 70-313 X 3,274,810 9/1966 Traversa et a1 70-313 X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,336,772 August 22, 1967 Ernst Jandt It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 3, for

"Narddeutsche" read Norddeutsche column 4, line 38,

for "oppoiste" read opposite line 68, for "or" read of column 6, line 23, for "log" read lug column 7, line 17, for "this" read the line 21, for "addtionally" read additionally line 39, for "imposible" read impossible Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A COMBINATION LOCK WHICH IS OPENED BY FOLLOWING A PRESET COMBINATION, BOLT ACTUATOR MEANS, CONTROL MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID BOLT ACTUATOR MEANS, BLOCKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONTROL MEANS AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE LATTER INTO AND OUT OF A BLOCKING POSITION IN WHICH IT BLOCKS SAID CONTROL MEANS FROM OPERATING SAID BOLT ACTUATOR MEANS, SETTING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION FOR ENGAGING SAID BLOCKING MEANS AND MOVING IT OUT OF ITS BLOCKING POSITION AND A SECOND POSITION FOR NON-ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BLOCKING MEANS, MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID SETTING MEANS TO ITS FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID CONTROL MEANS AND SAID BLOCKING MEANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID SETTING MEANS TO A PREDETERMINED INITIAL POSITION, MEANS DEFINING A TORTUOUS PATH FOR RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN (1) SAID SETTING MEANS AND (2) SAID CONTROL MEANS AND ITS ASSOCCIATED BLOCKING MEANS, SAID PATH EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION FROM AN INITIAL POINT TO A TERMINAL POINT AT WHICH SAID BLOCKING MEANS AND SAID SETTING MEANS ARE ENGAGEABLE WHEN THE SETTING MEANS IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION BUT NON-ENGAGEABLE WHEN THE SETTING MEANS IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING SAID PATH DEFINING MEANS TO CHANGE SAID PATH AND THEREBY CHANGE SAID COMBINATION, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SETTING MEANS AND SAID CONTROL MEANS ALONG SAID PATH WITHOUT DISTURBING SAID SETTING MEANS IN ITS SAID FIRST POSITION TO BRING SAID BLOCKING MEANS AND SAID SETTING MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT TO MOVE SAID BLOCKING MEANS OUT OF ITS BLOCKING POSITION SO THAT SAID CONTROL MEANS IS FREE TO OPERATE SAID BOLT ACTUATOR MEANS. 